History Literature Festival concludes with conversations on cinema, Hyderabad and war

The History Literature Festival concluded in Hyderabad on Sunday, February 8, bringing to a close three days of conversations that traversed time, memory, politics and storytelling. The final day turned its focus to the city of Hyderabad, its past and present, alongside discussions on science, love stories from history and the role of Indians in World War II.

The day began with a session titled ‘Cinema of Hyderabad: Past and Future’, featuring film scholar S.V. Srinivas, film historian C. Yamini Krishna and PhD scholar Srinivas Kondra. The discussion examined the evolution of Telugu cinema and its political and cultural role. S.V. Srinivas observed that Telugu cinema must be discussed in the context of its larger social and political function. “Telugu cinema should be spoken about because its primary social and political function is to make leader figures. This is not something that Telugu cinema learnt from Hyderabad. This is from Madras,” he said, referring to the industry’s early years.

C. Yamini Krishna spoke about the significance of the World Telugu Conference, noting that the film industry played a crucial role in shaping a distinct Telugu identity during that period. It was during this phase, she said, that the industry began to firmly establish itself as the Telugu film industry.

This was followed by a session titled ‘Hyderabad and Hyderabadis: Migrations and Transformations’, which explored the city’s layered history. Journalist Serish Nanisetti traced Hyderabad’s evolution from the time its founders moved from Golconda to establish a new capital. The discussion reflected on how the city’s identity has been shaped by waves of migration and political change. Journalist Yunus Lasania pointed out that several rulers and communities who were not originally from Hyderabad made significant contributions to its development. Their influence, he noted, has helped shape the city into what is today a thriving financial and technological hub. The session was moderated by Actor and Singer Anuj Gurwara.

Later sessions shifted to storytelling and memory. ‘History, Fiction and Folklore: Love Stories from the Past’ featured Oral Historian Aanchal Malhotra, Historian Rana Safvi and Podcaster Eric Chopra. The speakers reflected on how cities preserve emotional histories and how stories of love often survive through folklore, archives and oral traditions. They spoke about the idea that every city leaves behind narratives that intertwine the personal with the political.

The final session of the festival, titled ‘World War II: Indians in Britain’s Battles’, examined the role of Indian soldiers in the global conflict and their often overlooked contributions. The discussion featuring Journalist Raghu Karnad, Former Editor of The Hindu Mukund Padmanabhan and Historian Indivar Kamtekar shed light on the complexities of colonial participation in the war and the human stories embedded within it.

The festival concluded with a Baithak, an informal closing conversation that served as an introspection of the three-day journey.